Peggy,

I've noticed in the past couple of years the shift is marketing is all about customization and bringing everything to the consumer. Making their lives easier. I think that's one reason Netflix.com has done so well (I've been a member since '01). I think this is something that associations can learn from, especially in the ways of publications and education in general.

I'm a huge fan of webinars because they let people participate as little or as much as they want to. I attended one last week on the Chapter Leaders Playground which allowed for people to submit questions AND to ask questions directly to the presenter via conference call. Cynthia did an excellent job at moderating the conversation and making sure that people who submitted questions via the web were answered just as quickly as though who submitted their questions verbally.

I think Maghound is another version of how people can participate as little or as much as they want. The consumer (or member in our cases) has as much power as they want. And though I hate to say it, I'm sure Maghound also has people who continue to pay just because they don't feel like going through the process of canceling. I still think that it is something that we can learn from. Have the menu open for our members to engage as little or as much as they want. Let them pick their price and their engagement and they just might choose to "upgrade".